Deadline: 15-Apr-2024
The U.S. Department of State, Office of International Religious (J/IRF) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for projects that support freedom of religion or belief through the protection of religious and cultural heritage sites in Sri Lanka.
This program cannot fund the construction, repair, or maintenance of religious properties, artifacts, or cultural heritage sites.
Funding Information
- Total Funding Ceiling: $700,000
- Total Funding Floor: $700,000
- Anticipated Number of Awards: 1-2
- Period of Performance: minimum of 24 months
- Anticipated Time to Award, Pending Availability of Funds: 6 –9 months after NOFO posted
Program Outcomes
- Program outcomes may include but are not limited to:
- Multi-faith engagement and dialogue lead members of diverse communities to coordinate on and engage in collective action to address themes of mutual concern;
- Diverse community actors and networks, including members of historically marginalized groups, take collective action to promote and protect the rights of all religious communities to have places of worship;
- Civil society-driven processes or mechanisms address the concerns and interests of community members, including members of minority religions and belief communities;
- Increased awareness and understanding among government officials and security, law enforcement, and legal actors of the value and importance of human rights, mutual respect, and inclusion for all, regardless of one’s religion or beliefs;
- Government agencies, law enforcement, and political leaders are increasingly responsive to domestic and international advocacy to protect and preserve religious and cultural and heritage sites;
- Government stakeholders build working relationships with rights advocates and community actors, including those from minority religions, belief or non-belief.
Program Activities
- Program activities may include but are not limited to:
- Convening multi-stakeholder policy dialogues on religious freedom with civil society, legal experts, government officials, faith-based organizations, and believers and non-believers with clear connection to actions that seek to promote the importance of protection and preservation of religious and cultural heritage sites as it relates to religious freedom;
- Advocating with the central government as well as the Department of Archeology, Ministry of Buddha Sasana, and Religious and Cultural Affairs on behalf of and inclusion of faith groups in decision-making processes that impact religious freedom and incorporate their feedback into policy and practice in a timely manner;
- Training to build capacity among religious and ethnic communities so they can both map and utilize financial, organizational, governmental, and other resources to engage international entities on a shared goal to preserve and/or stabilize movable and immovable, tangible or intangible cultural heritage;
- Providing training on documentation of religious/cultural heritage preservation and effective outreach methods relating to awareness of shared cultural heritage to civil society organizations, interfaith actors or organizations, youth groups, etc.;
- Engaging policy makers at local and national levels, as well as international organizations such as UNESCO, to enlist their support for protecting cultural heritage and artifacts important to religious and ethnic communities;
Eligibility Criteria
- J/IRF welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. J/IRF’s preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.
- Applications submitted by for-profit entities may be subject to additional review following the panel selection process. Additionally, the Department of State prohibits profit to for-profit or commercial organizations under its assistance awards.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
